Acoustic giant Yamaha downsizes and gets travel-friendly with a new compact electro that has a surprisingly big heart.
![Big Ideas](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/5213/287671/5b357589f3a18/Big-Ideas.jpg)
The rise of the compact travel acoustic has been surprisingly meteoric. The two dominant American makers, Taylor and Martin, have recently enjoyed huge hits in the burgeoning market for small acoustics. For Martin, Ed Sheeran’s preference for its diminutive LX1E ‘Little Martin’ meant the company could barely keep up with demand in the wake of his commercial breakthrough. He’s had three signature models since.
Meanwhile, the success of Taylor’s trailblazing Big Baby concept led to the development of its GS Mini auditorium guitar under the design vision of luthier Andy Powers. Launched in 2011, it defied expectations about how big a small guitar can sound and met with huge commercial success.
Not wishing to be left out of the party, Yamaha has now entered the ring with its own take on the genre. Yamaha has made models that could be termed as ‘travel guitars’ in the past with the APXT2 cutaway and JR mini folk series, but those were three-quarter size guitars, with 579mm (22.8-inch) and 538.5mm (21.2-inch) scale lengths, and seemed meant for smaller hands. Now, the return of Yamaha’s CSF series after 15 years marks its most determined move yet into the compact acoustic market, but it’s telling that despite the marketing images of campfires and tents, the ‘travel guitar’ phrase isn’t mentioned, with the description instead being ‘compact folk guitar’. Its scale is 600mm (23.6 inches) and the notion of a guitar that could occupy middle ground in the Yamaha line emerges. So does the idea succeed in practice?
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2018 من Guitarist.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2018 من Guitarist.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
![BASIC INSTINCTS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/MPMlY46Ko1716554046732/BASIC-INSTINCTS.jpg)
BASIC INSTINCTS
The sophisticated range of Swedish-designed guitars made by .strandberg* has lured thousands of players over to the headless side. But the company's new stripped-back Boden Essential model is its strongest play yet for the hearts and minds of mainstream players
![Second String](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/sBvIB9aL_1716553429966/SECOND-STRING.jpg)
Second String
As PRS's more affordable USA-made S2 line moves into its second decade, the series gets a revamp with - at last - USA-made pickups and electronics. What took so long?
![PABLO VAN DE POEL](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/pliVW8Gi81716553146589/PABLO-VAN-DE-POEL.jpg)
PABLO VAN DE POEL
When a band from The Netherlands describes themselves as 'raw, psychedelic Southern rock', it may take a little cognitive processing to work out what that might mean. One listen to DeWolff, however, and you will be duly transported to the 60s for some fuzzed-out rock 'n' roll
![THE BERNIE MARSDEN COLLECTION](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/fTGNQAUsa1716552615812/THE-BERNIE-MARSDEN-COLLECTION.jpg)
THE BERNIE MARSDEN COLLECTION
With a fabulous collection of the late Bernie Marsden's guitars, amps and other highly collectable music gear going under the auctioneer's hammer on 11 June, we were thrilled to have the chance of a sneak preview
![LENNY KRAVITZ](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/ne2PrIV6l1716552113747/LENNY-KRAVITZ.jpg)
LENNY KRAVITZ
Some 35 years since the release of his debut LP, for his 12th record, Blue Electric Light, Lenny Kravitz is back again with equal doses of vigour and vibes, using vintage guitars and the purest valve amps
![GEORGE VJESTICA](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/PizpXRgr21716551673569/GEORGE-VJESTICA.jpg)
GEORGE VJESTICA
You may not know him at first glance, but the work of Stoke-on-Trent native George Vjestica has probably impacted some of your favourite albums and movies
![DICKEY BETTS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/S1yn6-n1d1716550402126/DICKEY-BETTS.jpg)
DICKEY BETTS
Emerging from the shadow of Duane to write signature hit Ramblin' Man, the Allman Brothers guitarist was a hard-living pioneer of Southern rock
![NICK GUPPY](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/oT2xY-izl1716550275271/NICK-GUPPY.jpg)
NICK GUPPY
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our highly valued amplifier guru, who died suddenly in April
![Lucky Break](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/yNx8pJTlM1716550134770/LUCKY-BREAK.jpg)
Lucky Break
Alex Bishop blends old wood with new in an attempt to fix a severely damaged guitar headstock
![Tones Behind The Tracks](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5213/1708933/vBB5zBmVh1716549877912/TONES-BEHIND-THE-TRACKS.jpg)
Tones Behind The Tracks
Cedric Burnside learnt at the knee of his fabled grandfather, but his latest album is a hill country blues masterclass on his own terms